Buxted battles to save plans for new village hall
.jpg "Buxted battles to save plans for new village hall")
Ways in which Buxted can beat the clampdown on development within 7km of the Ashdown Forest and build a new village hall are under consideration.
The parish council believes Wealden District Council has taken a “very draconian” stand on implementing the rule and is actively lobbying to have it eased.
In a statement, the council said: “Needless to say the Buxted Parish Council are immensely disappointed at the on-going situation and are dissatisfied with the performance of Wealden District Council and have been working extremely hard to try to find a solution to the problem.
“But we feel that our hard work is becoming worthwhile and a more positive outcome may be possible.”
The council is “minded” to look at the feasibility of re-designing the proposed hall so that the floor space matches that of the existing hall floor space (Reading Room), some of which is unusable, plus a permitted development increase.
It would look to gain outline agreement from Wealden council for the development and then hold a public meeting to see if there was community support. If there was not support, the project would end.
Buxted Parish Council said matters were still at a discussion stage and events “seem to be constantly” shifting.
Its statement also said: “As the wider community is becoming aware of what the 7km rule will have on our local rural communities, the dissatisfaction is growing and other factors may work in our favour. At the moment it is somewhat of a waiting game and all we can do is update the current status as and when we know it.”
The council has suggested residents write to:
the planning inspectorate at Bristol: karen.jones@pins.gsi.gov.uk
Wealden MP Charles Hendry charles.hendry.mp@parliament.uk
the leader of Wealden District Council, Bob Standley cllr.robert.standley@wealden.gov.uk
the councillor responsible for strategic planning, Roy Galley cllr.roy.galley@wealden.gov.uk
and the head of planning, Kevin Williams kelvin.williams@wealden.gov.uk
UckfieldNews first highlighted the problems facing the Buxted village hall development on July 3. See story here: Plans for new community hall in Buxted are in jeopardy
* Dismay over the 7km curb on development is growing in Uckfield with business people challenging Wealden council at a meeting last week.
Report here: Uckfield business people challenge council planning decision
See also:
Uckfield Town Council makes decision on dog control orders
Cups presented to winners of Uckfield garden competition
Uckfield Singers raise funds for Housebound Club
(Added to site Friday, August 3rd, 2012)
